Being healthy should be a life goal no matter what time of year you choose to embrace it. Today’s #WellnessWednesday is about eating and getting well at Pritikin Longevity and Wellness Center.

Shed those unwanted pounds and shake off the winter blues.

At a certain age, your annual physical reveals all kinds of medical concerns. High blood pressure, bad levels of cholesterol and even diabetes. Hereditary factors are only 20% of the problem. Exercise and going on a diet are not necessarily the answer, and sometimes create even more questions. Like, what diet is best, Keto, Weight Watchers, Fat vs Carbs, South Beach, Atkins or others? And how much exercise do I need, do I run, join a gym, do weight training or purchase an expensive Peloton? and everyone has a different opinion or solution.

The “Diet Culture” is what the Pritikin Longevity Center calls it and instead offers a 44 year old proven individualized medical program, based on the fact that food and what you eat can actually be more effective than medicine. They promote food as medicine and their program works to lower blood pressure, improve cholesterol levels and even mood. In Europe, spending a week or more at a luxury Medical Spa in Switzerland or Germany are commonplace among the affluent and even the not so affluent.

As an invited guest, I spent 4 days at the Pritikin Longevity Center in Doral (Pritikin is a separate facility in the Trump National Doral Resort) as part of their “Taste Of Pritikin” introduction. I learned that my avocado toast on whole grain bread was full of fat and that my snack of nuts and seeds were contributing to the persistent fat on my body. That Salt, Sugar and Oil were my “drugs of choice” and were actually detrimental to my health.

I learned that “front loading” plain steamed, roasted or raw veggies is the key to filling up before the main meal, and that even when dining at restaurants, a salad drenched in dressing could have more fat and calories than a cheeseburger, and even a plain piece of broiled fish had probably been brushed multiple times with olive oil and even salted.

But most surprising was the misconception that Pritikin is a “fat farm”, or the last resort for severely obese and unhealthy individuals. What I did see were a number of healthy-looking men and women of all ages, although most were north of 50, learning and enjoying the Pritikin way of dining and eating. Socializing was key and many proudly wore Pritikin t-shirts and planned their Pritikin stay as their annual vacation ”tune-up”, meeting up with friends and like-minded guests. I spoke with one guest named Jeff, who has been coming every year for 5 years, and was told that 50% of the guests are repeat visitors. They even have a Facebook fan page.

So, I am writing this article to dispel that “fat farm” image of Pritikin and to hopefully introduce the program to a new clientele. Pritikin is actually a health and wellness resort that aims to combat disease. While the full program is two weeks long and can be expensive, many attend the one week program and one week can definitely set the tone for healthier living. For many, the cost is low if you are reversing diabetes or damage to your internal organs like your liver or heart.

The program is all-inclusive and relatively strict and includes a first-day full medical workup, with blood tests, urinalysis and exercise tolerance test. At the end of your stay, your levels are tested once again, so you can actually see the improvements.

Accommodations are quite lovely, as your stay is in large rooms at the golf villas at Trump National Resort, surrounded by the green of the golf course, lush landscaping, and many many fountains. NOTE: The mini bar is locked in your room.

The 3-day “Taste of Pritikin” included a gym orientation, cardio and strength training in the state of the art fitness center, private meeting with a nutritionist, classes like yoga and meditation, and workshops that included tips on dining out, finding the best exercise program, mindful eating and a variety of cooking classes hosted in the Cooking Cove by the very passionate and talented Chef Vince.

Chef Vince is not new to Pritikin, at 36 years old he has been there for 12 years, creating healthy and creative meals that were filling and surprisingly delicious.

I first met Chef Vince at a workshop he hosted entitled, “Become your own Pritikin Chef”. He was at ease with the attendees engaging them about how he loves experimenting with new products and ingredients and is a big fan of Amazon.com, where he sources appliances like peelers, blenders, and meal prep storage containers. He shared that he favors Vollrath pots and pans, and where he gets his brown rice and ancient grains. He explained that bison can replace red meat, and while you can have bison once a week, red meat should be eaten only once a month. And that bean or lentil-based pastas and a pumpkin ravioli from Mimi’s Ravioli were other healthier choices. Spices can easily replace salt and enhance even the simplest dish with flavor.

We learned how to read those confusing nutrition labels, watching for lower sodium and sugar levels in our choices. And that spices and freshly ground pepper can easily replace salt.

And the meals were delicious and offered many options. Based on a therapeutic meal plan, we enjoyed three meals a day, plus two snack times. The buffet breakfast included a vegetable egg white omelet station, three types of oatmeal, cold cereals and yogurt or cottage cheese with fresh fruit.

A snack of soup, crudités or dip or salad was offered mid-morning. Every day the snacks varied with soups ranging from mushroom edamame, curried lentil to three squash puree and snacks of crispy potato skin or black rice salad.

Lunch was a large chopped salad bar, soup, and choice of entrée. One day I chose the yellow split pea soup, pumpkin ravioli with sage cream sauce and another day the hearty vegetable soup and grilled vegetable quesadilla. Pulled pork tacos featured corn rather than flour tortillas. Dessert is served only upon request, and options included chocolate pudding or butternut flan, butterscotch pudding or lemon cheesecake.

ANOTHER snack is offered during “social hour” 3:30-4:30 with another delicious soup choice, and among the snacks, deviled eggs, jicama and mango salad, falafel with tahini or zucchini spring rolls.

Dinner was served from 5:30-7:30, with choice of salad, soup, and entrees that ranged from pan roasted Catch of the Day, lemon braised Salmon, turkey loaf with mushroom sauce and a grilled Bison filet. By the end of the dinner, I felt full and not at all deprived. Did not miss the salt or the sugar one bit.

The evening ends with meditation in the yoga studio or optional once a week movie night at the Cinebistro in Doral.

Walking back after my final evening of meditation, I noticed the full moon over the lit tennis courts, and marveled at how full and peaceful I actually felt. A “Taste of Pritikin” offered me just a glimpse into a healthier way to live and enjoy life, one that many at any age could benefit from. Here’s to a healthy next year and decade!.

For more information:

Pritikin Longevity Center

8755 NW 36th St

Miami, FL 33178

305.935.7131